Invasions & Evasions

Chomsky talks about tinkerers vs. overhaulers. He says, “We should be in favor of both. Sometimes tinkering with the system can be of great help to people.” And addressing media reform, he says, “If you can induce the media to give somewhat fairer treatment of significant issues, that’s all to the good. It doesn’t change anything fundamental, but it can make a difference.” The conversation moves on to imperialism and how the U.S. power structure creates a web of euphemisms and fantasies to obscure its interventionist policies. He discusses Israel and the intellectual culture in the U.S. that supports it. He then goes on to discuss Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, Jimmy Carter’s book, and the ensuing hysteria about it. Interview by David Barsamian.

Speaker

Noam Chomsky, by any measure, has led a most extraordinary life. In one index he is ranked as the eighth most cited person in history, right up there with Aristotle, Shakespeare, Marx, Plato and Freud. The legendary MIT professor is a major contributor to 21st century linguistics. In addition to his pioneering work in that field he has been a leading voice for peace and social justice for many decades. Chris Hedges says he is “America’s greatest intellectual” who “makes the powerful, as well as their liberal apologists, deeply uncomfortable.” He is Institute Professor (emeritus) in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT and Laureate Professor of Linguistics and Haury Chair in the Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona. At 90, he still gives lectures all over the world. He is the author of scores of books, including Propaganda & the Public Mind, How the World Works, Power Systems and Global Discontentswith David Barsamian.